St. Mary the Virgin, Baldock. St. Margaret of Antioch, Bygrave.

“BUILDING WITH CHRIST”

Sunday 9th December 20188.00am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Communion 6.30pm The Art of AdventThere is a quiet traditional service of Holy Communion every Sunday morning at 8am

This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent. At our 9.30am Parish Communion we wait with expectation for the coming of Christ. The Praise be Band, organ and choir accompany our worship. There is Junior Church and the Travelling Crib joins us on its journey to Bethlehem. This week we think particularly of John the Baptist.

At 6.30pm we introduce The Art of Advent. We hold a short session in the hall for people to share how they are using the beautiful Advent books in the company of our resident art historian, Alex Milne. It will end with Compline at about 7.15pm

Next Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent. At our 9.30am Parish Praise! Nativity play we welcome the Infant School Christian choir, the Junior School Tuesday club and Messy Church families who join with our own Junior Church and After Hours as we retell the story of the coming of Jesus with some surprising additions. Watch out for the leopard lying down with the squirrel (but thankfully no child putting their hand into the hole of the nursing asp)! The choir, organ and music group accompany our worship and we present bibles to some of our

regular Junior church children. The travelling crib makes an appearance and we light the third candle on our Advent Ring.At 6.30pm next week, The Art of Advent. We hold a short session in the hall for people to share how they are using the beautiful Advent books in the company of our resident art historian, Alex Milne. Have you bought a copy yet? Get yours today! It will end with Compline at about 7.15pmAt 11am there is Parish Communion and Junior Church at Bygrave.

At 6.30pm next week, The Art of Advent. It will end with Compline at 7.15pm

Today’s worshipOpening hymn: 480 Before the Gospel: 527Offertory hymn: People Get Ready (Praise Be)At Communion: Open the eyes of my heart (Praise Be)Final hymn: 582

The CollectAlmighty God,purify our hearts and minds,that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviourwe may be ready to receive him,who is our Lord and our God. Amen

The Old Testament Reading Malachi 3: 1-4See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of

his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Canticle Benedictus: O bless the God of Israel O bless the God of Israel,who comes to set us free,who visits and redeems usand grants us liberty.The prophets spoke of mercy,of rescue and release;God shall fulfil the promiseto bring our people peace.

Now from the house of Davida child of grace is given;a Saviour comes among usto raise us up to heaven.Before him goes the herald,forerunner in the way,the prophet of salvation,the messenger of Day.

Where once were fear and darknessthe sun begins to rise -the dawning of forgivenessupon the sinner's eyes,to guide the feet of pilgrimsalong the paths of peace:O bless our God and Saviour,with songs that never cease!

Alleluia antiphon to herald the GospelAlleluia, alleluia.Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,

and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.Alleluia.

The Gospel Luke 3: 1-6In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”’

This week, please remember in your prayers these areas of our parish:

Pinnocks Lane, Pinnocks Close, The Tene, Pembroke Road, High Street

Those in need of healing:Paula Conder, Trevor Bunch, Jeanette Jackson, Sheila Boudreau,

Timothy FathersAshling Galley Coulthard, Lynne Edwards, Rosemary Charsley,

Stephen Cooper, David Dodds, Rachael Evan-Hart, Eleanor Morrison, Helen and Sandra Walden, baby Elizabeth Lacey, Joy

Smith, Maggie Macdonald, Maureen Roberts, Maggie Hodges.

At the anniversary of their death: Clarice Thornton, Keith Blackburn, Dorothy Banks, Michael

Crossley, Ada Clowes, Baby William Welch, Ron Page, Robin Upton

Offertory hymn: People get ready (Praise Be Band)

1. People get ready,there's a train a comin'you don't need no baggage, you just get on board.

2. All you need is faith,To hear the diesels hummin’Don't need no ticket,you just thank the Lord.

3. So people get ready,there’s a train to Jordan.Picking up passengers,coast to coast.

4. Faith is key,Open the doors and board

‘emThere's hope for all,among those loved the most.

5. There ain't no room, for the hopeless sinner,Who would hurt all mankind,just to save his own.

6. Have pity on those, whose chances grow thinner,for there’s no hiding place,against the Kingdom's throne.

7. So people get ready.There's a train a comin'You don't need no baggage ,you just get on board.

8. All you need is faith,To hear the diesels hummin'Don't need no ticket,you just thank the Lord.

Communion hymn: Open the eyes (Praise Be Band)Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,Open the eyes of my heartI want to see YouI want to see You (repeat)

To see You high and lifted upShinin' in the light of Your gloryPour out Your power and loveAs we sing holy, holy, holy

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord …(repeat)

To see You high and lifted upShinin' in the light of Your gloryPour out Your power and loveAs we sing holy, holy, holy (repeat)

Holy, holy, holyWe cry holy, holy, holyYou are holy, holy, holyI want to see you

Choir Anthem: Advent Message by Martin How (b. 1931)Come Lord Jesus, come Lord Jesus, Amen, come Lord Jesus. (repeat)

O come quickly, come Lord Jesus, O come quickly, come Lord come.Come Lord Jesus, come Lord Jesus, Amen, come Lord Jesus.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Come Lord Jesus, come Lord Jesus, come Lord Jesus, come…. (repeat)

Yea, come quickly, yea, come quickly, yea, come quickly, come Lord, come.Amen, amen, amen, amen, come Lord, come.Post CommunionFather in heaven,who sent your Son to redeem the worldand will send him again to be our judge:give us grace so to imitate himin the humility and purity of his first comingthat, when he comes again,we may be ready to greet himwith joyful love and firm faith;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Syrian family are settling in; the children have started school and the whole family are making the steps towards finding their feet. Very many thanks for all your support in prayer and other ways. We are doing something really valuable.

Delivering Christmas Cards: We just a few bundles of Christmas cards left to deliver all on Clothall Common with details of Christmas services. They need to be out in the next week or two. Please take a bundle if you can!!

Advent books: STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!!! We plan to meet at 6.30pm for 40 minutes in the church hall on December 9th and December 16th and end with Compline together. This will be a chance to share your thoughts on using the books and to enjoy the beautiful pictures together in the company of our resident art historian, Alex Milne.

Upcoming Meetings:Community Sponsorship meeting: Sun Dec 9th at 6pm in church hallFriends of St Mary’s Committee: Mon 21st Jan at 3.45pm in the hallAfter Hours: Sun 23rd Dec at 7pm at 24 Park CrescentBaldock PCC: Mon 28th Jan at 7.45pm

The next Healing Communion and prayer for healing and wholeness is on Tuesday 18th December at 3pm at 6 Pinnocks Lane. All welcome – these are small, supportive prayer meetings where we pray for each other and for those in need of healing in whatever way. Anointing in the oil of healing is also included.

Coming soon!! (as well as Jesus) A brand new website! (OK it’s not as exciting as Jesus but still pretty big news for us. Watch this space for more details!HOME FELLOWSHIP GROUPS: We have three Home Groups. The next dates are:Thurs 20th Dec at 7.30pm at Mill Cottage, BygraveSun 9th Dec at 6.30pm in the church hall – Advent group using Advent booksMon 10th Dec at 8pm at Baldock RectoryThurs 20th Dec at 10.30am at 20 The Gardens Home Groups are a really good way of supporting each other in prayer and fellowship. They help to understand the bible better and how to be a Christian in the 21st Century. Do try one if you have never been. You will be warmly welcomed!

Mince pies please! Offers of mince pies for Nine Lessons and Carols on Sunday 23rd Dec, received gratefully!

New St Albans Diocese magazine: Pick up your copy of Alban Life from the back of church today. The first year’s worth is free.

Is there anyone who would like to (or be willing to!) come to a Communion service at 12pm, on Christmas Eve? I find it a really good way or preparing for the rigours of the afternoon – but I need a congregation! If you can come, please let me know. Many thanks, Andrew

As usual we will have a board for you to display a Christmas card you are sending to the Church. By not sending individual cards you save money, which you are invited to give to your favourite charity.

Church diaries with a picture of stained glass windows from Baldock and Bygrave are available at the back of church.  They are free (but you are welcome to make a donation if you wish).  Collect yours today.

HIDDEN HUMOUR John the Baptist of Biblical fame used to walk through the desert in his bare feet. This left his feet tough, which is understandable- the hot sand and rough terrain would leave anyone's feet tough. He was known to receive signs from God and occasionally perform mystical feats. He subsisted on a diet of locusts and honey. Without access to dental hygiene at the time, this left him with somewhat bad breath. It also left him frail, as the diet wasn't varied and would have required an immense intake of food to be remotely sustained. I guess that you could say that he was a super-callused fragile mystic plagued with halitosis.

WEEK-AT-A-GLANCECHURCH OPEN: Sun to Fri 8.40 am to 3.30 pm

Coffee Bar and gift shop open Wed. 10 am to midday.

Sun 9th 7.20 am Morning Prayer 2nd Sunday of Advent

8.00 am Holy Communion (preacher: Sharon Cooper)

9.30 am Parish Communion and Junior Church (preacher: Sharon Cooper)

5.00 pm Community Sponsorship Meeting in Hall6.00 pm Evening Prayer6.30 pm The Art of Advent in church hall, ending with

compline Mon 10th 8.40 am Morning Prayer

5.00 pm Evening Prayer 8.00 pm House Group at Rectory

Tue 11th 8.20 am Morning Prayer 4.30 pm Evening Prayer

Wed 12th 8.40 am Morning Prayer Ember Day9.30 am Holy Communion10.30 am Tiny Tots Sing-a-long 5.00 pm Evening Prayer7.30 pm Faith Confirmed at Rectory

Thu 13th 8.40 am Morning Prayer Lucy, martyr, 3044.15 pm Evening Prayer

Fri 14th John of the Cross, poet, teacher of the faith, 1591. Ember Day

Sat 15th 9.15 am Morning PrayerEmber Day

10.00 am Rehearsal for the Nativity PlaySun 16th 7.20 am Morning Prayer

3rd Sunday of Advent8.00 am Holy Communion9.30 am Parish Praise! Nativity Play11.00 am Bygrave Parish Communion with Junior

Church6.00 pm Evening Prayer

6.30 pm The Art of Advent in church hall, ending with compline

All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3: 6)

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS: Luke 3: 7-18

Rev’d Canon Andrew Holford: 01462 896273 (Note: Friday day off) 2008luddite@gmail.com Churchwardens: Phil Charsley (Premises): 01462 895665. Emma Wilkinson (Safeguarding): 07836 749283Alex Milne – Hall Hire: alexandra.milne@gmail.com / 01462 490062